Tony Pua: Everyone was involved in IRI trainings, not just us

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua today said that all political parties in Malaysia regardless of allegiance had participated in the training sessions organised by the Washington-based International Republican Institute (IRI).

“Regardless of whether they were from Umno, Gerakan, MCA or DAP, they were all involved as the training had to do with communications and the internet.

“(The IRI) organised training sessions which involved all parties. It was not only us. (The IRI) has also released statements on the matter,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

However, he declined to comment on allegations that the IRI had worked with the opposition since 2002 to undermine the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in the 14th general election (GE14).

Last month, the IRI told a forum its efforts in Malaysia had finally paid off in GE14 and benefitted the US in terms of its current rivalry with China.

Although it denied contributing to the changes in Malaysia, IRI president Daniel Twining also told the forum that Washington had benefited from the new government in Putrajaya from the very start.

He also said PH’s victory would work in Washington’s favour although it was unlikely that Malaysia would become a US ally.

The IRI said today it had always stayed above partisan politics in its activities in Malaysia, and worked with politicians from both sides of the divide.

It said it had provided non-partisan capacity building support to political parties across the political spectrum in the form of direct training workshops and consultations with both the PH and BN coalitions.